Dung wins fourth stage with strong finish

Out in front: Nguyen Thuy Dung leaves her rivals behind to win the fourth stage of the Return to Dien Bien Cycling Tournament. — VNS Photo Hai Van

Dung, of the Binh Duong Environment and Water Supply and Drainage team, cycled eight rounds around Son La City, for 32km, with a time of 45.42min.

Dung ran away from the group at the beginning of the seventh lap, though riders from Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang and Co May Dong Thap teams sought to catch up with Dung. However, her teammates were successful in holding them behind. She continued alone to the finish, creating a gap of nearly 10sec from the nearest riders.

National member Vo Thi Phuong Phi, Dung's teammate, came in second, just moments before the yellow jersey holder Nguyen Thi That of An Giang.

That continues as the tournament's leader, with a time of 6:38.38, while Nguyen Phan Ngoc Trang and Cao Thi Cam Le, both of Binh Duong, remain close behind.

That also leads the green jersey category with 80 points.

In the women's team ranking, Binh Duong is on top, followed by Dong Thap and An Giang.

On the men's side, the Eximbank HCM City team won the first stage win when member Le Nguyet Minh finished the 12 lap-48km race with 1:03.08.

The short stage witnessed consecutive high-speed attempts. Among them, a group of five cyclists broke-away on the fifth lap. They were successful in remaining ahead for some 24km, creating a 40sec gap with the chasing cyclists.

They were joined by the entire group at the beginning of the final lap.

Minh made a strong sprint to win his first stage. Le Van Duan of SunTek Sao Viet HCM City was second and Amirul Anuar Jafri of Malaysia was third.

Finishing fifth was Nguyen Tan Hoai of Domesco Dong Thap Pharmacy, who maintains his position as the competition's leader. His teammate, Nguyen Truong Tai, is the second fastest rider and Aso Keisuke of Bonne Chance of Japan and Huynh Mai Duy of SunTek Sao Viet shared third place.

Hoai who has won 66 points and also tops the green jersey pool.

With two members in the top three, Domesco Dong Thap strongly holds the first position in the team ranking table. Military Zone 7 and SunTek Sao Viet remain close behind.

Today, the tournament will finish when the women ride 90km from Tuan Giao Town to Dien Bien Phu City and the men compete in a 130km race from Thuan Chau Town to Dien Bien Phu City.

They will have to conquer two hills at Pha Din and Tang Quai.

Three cyclists, Hoai, Tai and Nguyen Thanh Tam of An Giang Plant Protection, will vie for the red jersey and the King of the Mountain.